Drum type washing machine

ABSTRACT

A drum type washing machine, by which assembly can be carried out more conveniently and by which the noise generation is suppressed. The drum type washing machine includes a cabinet covering rear and both lateral sides of the washing machine, a panel frame provided to an upper front side of the cabinet, the cabinet having at least one hole, and a top plate mounted on a top of the cabinet to cover a topside of the washing machine, the top plate having at least one protrusion, each protrusion having a slip-fit connection with a corresponding hole.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. P2004-009699, filed on Feb. 13, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine, by which a top plate can be assembled more stably.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Generally, a drum type washing system performs washing within a drum rotated by a drive force of a motor using friction between water and laundry. In performing washing by the drum type washing system, the laundry is hardly damaged and is not entangled with each other. And, the drum type washing system provides such a washing effect as beating, rubbing, and the like. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing machine according to a related art. Referring to FIG. 1, a drum type washing machine 1 consists of a cabinet 2, a tub 6, a drum 8, a lifter 10, and a motor 12. The cabinet 2 forms an exterior of the washing machine, and the tub 6 is provided within the cabinet 2 to hold (or contain) water therein. In order to attenuate vibration transferred to the tub 6, an upper part of the tub 6 is suspended by a spring 4 to be supported, and a lower part of the tub 6 is supported by a damper 5.

The drum 8 is rotatably provided within the tub 6 to hold (or contain) laundry therein. At least one or more lifters 10 are provided on an inner circumference of the drum 8 to lift the laundry upward to fall from a predetermined height by gravity. The lifters 10 are provided in an inner circumferential direction of the drum 8 to leave a predetermined distance (or to be equally spaced apart) from each other. And, the motor 12 is provided in rear of the tub 6 to transfer a rotational force to the drum 8. A control panel 14 is provided to an upper front side of the cabinet 2 to control an operation of the drum type washing machine. A cabinet cover 18 having an opening 16 is provided beneath the control panel 14.

In this case, a laundry is put/pulled in/from the drum 8 via the opening 16. A door 20 is connected to a rim of the opening 16 to open/close the opening 16. And, a gasket 22 is provided between the door 20 and the tub 6 to attenuate a shock caused by a rotation of the drum 8 and to prevent water leakage. A top plate 30 is provided over the cabinet 2 and control panel 14 to cover a topside of the drum type washing machine. An inlet hose 24, an inlet valve 26, and a detergent box 28 are provided under the top plate 30 to supply water or detergent to the tub 6.

Meanwhile, the control panel 14 is assembled to an upper part of the top plate 30 as well as the cabinet 2. In assembling or disassembling the control panel 14, the control panel 14 should be detachably assembled to the top plate 30. However, the top plate is assembled to an upper part of the related art washing machine by screw locking, whereby it takes a considerably long time in completing the corresponding assembly as well as an exterior of the topside of the washing machine is ruined. And, if the corresponding screw is loosened, the noise generated from the jointed portion between the top plate and the cabinet colliding with each other by the vibration of the motor is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum type washing machine that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention, which has been devised to solve the foregoing problem, lies in providing a drum type washing machine, by which assembly can be done more conveniently and by which the noise generation is suppressed.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from a practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the subject matter particularly pointed out in the specification and claims hereof as well as in the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages in accordance with the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a drum type washing machine includes a cabinet covering rear and both lateral sides of the washing machine, a panel frame provided to an upper front side of the cabinet, the cabinet having at least one hole, and a top plate mounted on a top of the cabinet to cover a topside of the washing machine, the top plate having at least one protrusion, each protrusion having a slip-fit connection with a corresponding hole.

The at least one hole may be arranged in a right-to-left direction of the panel frame to be equally spaced apart from each other, and each protrusion may be provided to confront a corresponding hole. A tilted plane may be provided to an outer circumference of each protrusion to have a slip-fit connection with a corresponding hole. Each protrusion may have a taper shape decreasing in a cross-sectional area, and each protrusion may be formed in one body of the top plate.

A flexible or elastic material may be provided between each protrusion and a corresponding hole. Herein, the flexible or elastic material may be rubber and may be coated on an outer circumference of each protrusion.

The drum type washing machine may include a control panel provided to a front side of the panel frame. Herein, each of the panel frame and the control panel may protrude upward at a thickness of the top plate to be higher than an upper end of the cabinet.

In another aspect of the present invention, a drum type washing machine includes a cabinet covering rear and both lateral sides of the washing machine, a panel frame provided to an upper front side of the cabinet, the panel frame having at least one hole, a top plate mounted on a top of the cabinet to cover a topside of the washing machine, the top plate having at least one protrusion, each protrusion having a slip-fit connection with a corresponding hole, and a control panel provided to a front side of the panel frame.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a drum type washing machine includes a cabinet covering rear and both lateral sides of the washing machine, a panel frame provided to an upper front side of the cabinet, the panel frame having at least one hole, a top plate mounted on a top of the cabinet to cover a topside of the washing machine, the top plate having at least one protrusion, each protrusion having a slip-fit connection with a corresponding hole, a control panel provided to a front side of the panel frame, and a flexible or elastic material provided between each protrusion and a corresponding hole.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing explanation and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and illustrative and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing machine according to a related art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of a top plate assembly of a drum type washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cutting diagram of a fixing structure of a top plate according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram of a top plate assembly of a drum type washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram of a fixing structure of a top plate according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cutting diagram of a fixing structure of a top plate according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, like elements are indicated using the same or similar reference designations where possible.

First of all, a drum type washing machine according to the present invention is explained in detail by referring to FIGS. 2 to 6 as follows. FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of a top plate assembly of a drum type washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, an outer case of a drum type washing machine according to the present invention includes a cabinet cover, a cabinet, and a top plate. The cabinet cover is provided to a front side of the washing machine and an opening is formed in a central part of the cabinet cover. A laundry is put in to and/or pulled out from the washing machine via the opening. A door is provided to a rim of the opening to open/close the opening. And, the opening communicates with an inside of a drum.

A tub is provided within the outer case to hold water therein and a motor is provided in rear of the tub. A drum is rotatably provided within the tub to be connected to the motor. And, the drum is rotated by the driven motor. A panel frame 40 is provided to an upper front side of the cabinet to reinforce rigidity of the outer case. A control panel 14 is provided to a front side of the panel frame 40. Various circuit elements controlling an operation of the washing machine are loaded (or mounted) on the control panel 14. And, a holder 42 is provided to each lateral side of the panel frame 40. A recess 32 is formed at a bottom side of the top plate 30 to confront the corresponding holder 42. When the top plate 30 is loaded on upper ends of the cabinet 2 and the panel frame 40, the holders 42 are coupled to the recesses 32, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a cutting diagram of a fixing structure of a top plate according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, a hanging portion 44 having a stepped shape is provided to a cylindrical outer circumference of the holder 42, and a tilted surface 42 a decreasing in diameter toward its upper side is provided to an upper part of the holder 42 to be easily inserted in (or to have a slip-fit connection with) the corresponding recess 32. A locking hole (not shown) is vertically formed to perforate a topside to bottom side of the holder 42 along a central axis of the holder 42. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the recess 32 includes an insertion recess and a holding recess 36. After having inserted in the insertion recess 34, the holder 42 is horizontally moved so that the hanging portion 44 of the holder 42 is inserted in the holding recess 36. The holding recess 36 extends long backward to communicate with the insertion recess 34.

A diameter of the insertion recess 34 is greater than that of the holder 42. And, the holding recess 36 had a diameter smaller than that of the holder 42 but greater than that of the hanging portion 44, so that the hanging portion 44 can be inserted in the holding recess 36. The holder 42 is fixed to the upper end of the panel frame 40 using a bolt 46. Another holder is provided to the panel frame 40. Three holders 42 are provided to the panel frame 40 in right-to-left direction to leave a predetermined distance from each other. Accordingly, the three recesses 32 are formed at the bottom side of the top plate 30 to confront the three holders 42, respectively.

When the top plate 30 is loaded on the upper ends of the cabinet and panel frame, the holders 42 are inserted in the insertion recesses 34, respectively. Subsequently, once the top plate 30 is pulled forward, the hanging portions 44 of the holders 42 are inserted in the corresponding holding recesses 36, respectively, so that the top plate 30 can be fixed thereto. Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, after the holder 42 is inserted in the recess 32 to be fixed thereto after having been locked in the upper end of the panel frame 40 using the locking bolt 46. Hence, the assembly configuration of the top plate 30 is complicated. Moreover, it is difficult to increase the number of the holders 42 to fix the top plate 30 thereto more concretely. Therefore, limitation is put on suppressing the noise generated from the fixing part of the top plate 30.

FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram of a top plate assembly of a drum type washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, an outer case of a washing machine includes a cabinet 52, a cabinet cover 56, and a top plate 70. A panel frame (not shown) is provided to an upper part (or a top) of the cabinet cover 56 to reinforce rigidity thereof, and a control panel 54 is provided to a front side of the panel frame. The top plate 70 is loaded on the upper part of the washing machine, and at least one or more protrusions 72 are provided to a front side of the top plate 70.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram of a fixing structure of a top plate according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cutting diagram of a fixing structure of a top plate according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the panel frame 6 includes a flat plate and both lateral ends of the panel frame 60 are fixed to an upper front side of the cabinet 52. Moreover, a lower end of the control panel 54 provided to the front side of the panel frame 60 is coupled to an upper end of the cabinet cover 56.

At least one or more holes 62 are formed in the panel frame 60 so that the protrusion 72 is fitted in the corresponding hole 62. A plurality of the holes 62 are formed to leave a predetermined distance from each other along a surface of the panel frame 60 coming into contact with the front side of the top plate 70. In order for topsides of the top plate 70, the control panel 54, and the panel frame 60 to exist in the same plane continuously, each of the panel frame 60 and the control panel 54 protrudes upward at a predetermined height equal to a thickness of the top plate 70 to be higher than the upper end of the cabinet 52. By the above-explained configuration, an exterior of the washing machine can be enhanced.

The rear and two lateral sides of the top plate 70, as shown in FIG. 4, are loaded onto the cabinet 52 and the front side of the top plate 70 is locked in the rear side of the panel frame 60 to be fixed thereto. Specifically, a plurality of the protrusions 72 is provided to the front side of the top plate 70, and a plurality of the holes 62 is formed on the panel frame 60 to confront a plurality of the protrusions 72, respectively. The protrusions 72 are fitted in the holes 62, respectively, so that the front side of the top plate 70 can be supported by the panel frame 60. A front portion of the protrusion 72 has a tilted plane to facilitate the corresponding protrusion 72 to be inserted in the corresponding hole 62. In the tilted plane, a cross-section of the protrusion 72 gradually decreases in a front direction. And, the protrusion 72 may have a taper shape.

An assembling process of the top plate according to another embodiment of the present invention is explained as follows. First of all, the top plate 70 is loaded on the upper part of the cabinet 52 and is then pushed in a front direction of the cabinet 52. In doing so, the top plate 70 slides forward along both upper ends of the cabinet 52 so that the front side of the top plate 70 approaches the rear side of the panel frame 60. Subsequently, the protrusions 72 provided to the front side of the top plate 70 are inserted in the holes formed in the panel frame 60, respectively, whereby the top plate 70 is lead to a correct loading position.

Once the protrusions 72 are completely inserted in the holes 62, respectively, the front side of the top plate 70 adheres closely to the rear side of the panel frame 60 to complete the assembly of the top plate 70. In this case, the top plate 70 is supported by a plurality of the protrusions 72 inserted in the holes 62, respectively. Meanwhile, a flexible or elastic material absorbing vibration, as shown in FIG. 6, is further provided to an outer circumference of the protrusion 72. The flexible or elastic material preferably includes a layer 72 a coated on an outside of the protrusion 72. The flexible or elastic material is not limited to the coating layer 72 a. For instance, a separate member formed of the flexible or elastic material may cover the protrusion 72. In this case, the flexible or elastic material is rubber. Hence, the flexible or elastic material absorbs the vibration generated from the high speed dewatering of the drum type washing machine, whereby the noise can be suppressed.

Accordingly, the present invention has the following advantages or effects. First of all, the protrusion is inserted in the hole formed at the panel frame to complete the assembly of the top plate after the top plate has been loaded on the upper end of the cabinet, whereby the assembly configuration of the top plate is simplified. Secondly, a plurality of the protrusions provided to the top plate are inserted in a plurality of the holes formed at the panel frame, respectively, whereby the top plate can be supported by the panel frame more stably. Finally, the flexible or elastic member is provided between the hole and the protrusion, whereby the noise generated from the top plate of the driven drum type washing machine can be suppressed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A drum type washing machine, comprising: a cabinet covering rear and both lateral sides of the washing machine; a panel frame provided to an upper front side of the cabinet, the cabinet having at least one hole; and a top plate mounted on a top of the cabinet to cover a topside of the washing machine, the top plate having at least one protrusion, each protrusion having a slip-fit connection with a corresponding hole.
 2. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one hole is arranged in a right-to-left direction of the panel frame to be equally spaced apart from each other, and wherein each protrusion is provided to confront a corresponding hole.
 3. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, wherein a tilted plane is provided to an outer circumference of each protrusion to have a slip-fit connection with a corresponding hole.
 4. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, wherein each protrusion has a taper shape decreasing in a cross-sectional area.
 5. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, wherein each protrusion is formed in one body of the top plate.
 6. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, wherein a flexible or elastic material is provided between each protrusion and a corresponding hole.
 7. The drum type washing machine of claim 6, wherein the flexible or elastic material is rubber.
 8. The drum type washing machine of claim 6, wherein the flexible or elastic material is coated on an outer circumference of each protrusion.
 9. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, further comprising a control panel provided to a front side of the panel frame.
 10. The drum type washing machine of claim 9, wherein each of the panel frame and the control panel protrudes upward at a thickness of the top plate to be higher than an upper end of the cabinet.
 11. A drum type washing machine, comprising: a cabinet covering rear and both lateral sides of the washing machine; a panel frame provided to an upper front side of the cabinet, the panel frame having at least one hole; a top plate mounted on a top of the cabinet to cover a topside of the washing machine, the top plate having at least one protrusion, each protrusion having a slip-fit connection with a corresponding hole; and a control panel provided to a front side of the panel frame.
 12. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, wherein each of the panel frame and the control panel protrudes upward at a thickness of the top plate to be higher than an upper end of the cabinet.
 13. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, wherein the at least one hole is arranged in a right-to-left direction of the panel frame to be equally spaced apart from each other, and wherein each protrusion is provided to confront a corresponding hole.
 14. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, wherein a tilted plane is provided to an outer circumference of each protrusion to have a slip-fit connection with a corresponding hole.
 15. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, wherein each protrusion has a taper shape decreasing in a cross-sectional area.
 16. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, wherein each protrusion is formed in one body of the top plate.
 17. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, wherein a flexible or elastic material is provided between each protrusion and a corresponding hole.
 18. The drum type washing machine of claim 17, wherein the flexible or elastic material is rubber.
 19. The drum type washing machine of claim 17, wherein the flexible or elastic material is coated on an outer circumference of each protrusion.
 20. A drum type washing machine, comprising: a cabinet covering rear and both lateral sides of the washing machine; a panel frame provided to an upper front side of the cabinet, the panel frame having at least one hole; a top plate mounted on a top of the cabinet to cover a topside of the washing machine, the top plate having at least one protrusion, each protrusion having a slip-fit connection with a corresponding hole; a control panel provided to a front side of the panel frame; and a flexible or elastic material provided between each protrusion and a corresponding hole. 